Cogent Design Philosophy in Three Easy Branches

Philosophic types maintain that there are three branches of inquiry not including your questions regarding your neighbor’s sexual orientation. (And that isn’t your business anyway.)

metaphysics: What is the nature of reality? (includes ontology & cosmology)

epistemology: What is the nature of knowledge?

axiology: What is the nature of values? (includes ethics & aesthetics)

Real world examples:

Graphic Design Movement Style:

metaphysics: What are the characteristics of this movement? How is this movement associated with other trends? In what ways are divisions between this movement and other styles arbitrary and/or helpful?

epistemology: Why do we perceive this movement as functioning in a certain way?

axiology: Why do value or degrade this movement? What is the basis of your opinion?

Design Examples:

metaphysics:

ontology: Is the design of [Paula Scher / Nicolas Jenson / Ben Lovejoy / You] implied by the existence of the universe?